Robby

This may seem like an odd request, but I suffer from terrible headaches, and have been on (i think) the same meds that Jeff was on before he had his surgery. I have searched high and low for the name of the surgery that he had that helped his headaches. Does anyone know? I think it was somehow sinus related. I ask because I have been listening to some solo shows of his where he references the headaches, the meds and the upcoming surgery.

 

Thanks in advance, all you wilco folks.

I'm not positive, but I believe he had surgery for a Deviated Septum. It's referred to as Septoplasty and/or Turbinate Reduction.

Trust me, without getting into the gory details, the surgery sucks. I had it done as a treatment for Sleep Apena and it did not work.

I would have better luck getting rid of Sleep Apena if I would just stay away from the beer, wine and chocolate chip cookies!

In Jeff's case, I thought his giving up smoking did more to releive his migranes than the surgery.

But giving up smoking usually leads to chocolate chip cookies, so go figure.

Today's Boston Herald has an article with their thoughts on what bands might play at Obama's inauguration.

 

It includes this:

 

The Good: Chicago

OK, my two cents worth:

If you are looking for a quieter mix:

I'm Always In Love - Solo Live Acoustic version (from some of the early taped shows that were done)

Cars Can't Escape - From the YHF Engineer Demos ( a better version in my opinion)

At My Window Sad & Lonely (Solo Acoustic version)

Ashes Of American Flags (Live In Chicago version)

Hesitating Beauty

Reservations

Please Tell My Brothers (Golden Smog)

Love & Mercy (Golden Smog)

If you are looking for more up-tempo stuff:

Won't Let You Down (from YHF sessions)

Hey Chicken (Loose Fur)

Thanks I Get (I'm a sucker for this one)

Monday (Live In Chicago version - was an extra song, not in the general release of this album - great version)

Not For The Season (There were some demo versions of this song done as a rocker that I liked better than the released Loose Fur version)

Many others already listed are my favorites as well and I don't know that I haven't repeated what others might have posted, but I'd tried to give you some "lesser known" songs (or lesser known versions of songs) that I have really liked. It is easy to find these - links to them I beleive are pinned on this board.

Um, this is gonna probably be the equivalent to throwing gasoline on a fire, but I just saw a commercial for this month's movies on the American Movie Classic network and the clips were set to What Light.

Now I really wonder about commercial several weeks ago on the MHD channel in which the artwork was very reminiscent of the SBS cover art.

I watch way too much TV...

Does anyone get MHD?

Its a High Definition combo/version of MTV, VH1 & CMT.

I was watching it last night and there is a animated commercial for the network and parts of it that look VERY similar to the cover for the new Wilco album. I actually thought it was a commercial for the album, not the network.

I wonder if this is by accident or by design?

So, I checked and can't find one, but does anybody know if there is a thread about song meanings? This thread wanted me to talk about "Theologians". When I hear, "No one's ever gonna take my life from me. I lay it down. A ghost is born", I think he is talking about suicide. Does anybody else think this?

Uh, am I just being stupid by stating what I think is the meaning of this song?

Jeff Tweedy is singing from the point of view of Christ:

Theologians don't know nuthin 'bout my soul (conventional religion)

No one's ever gonna take my life from me - I lay it down (death on a cross)

A ghost is born (holy spirit / Easter)

Maybe its just my Catholic upbringing and my take on the song is too simplistic.

But it puts the song in a whole diiferent light.

I also have been thinking that Tweedy is talking from the perspective of his mother on "Please Be Patient With Me' and "On and On" from the new album. Or maybe those two songs just remind me of my mother. But again, it makes you listen to these songs differently.

OK, my two cents worth on this album:

Like the two preceeding it, I did not like it the first time around.

Believe it or not, I felt that way about YHF the first time I heard it (playing it while painting my laundry room). Then I heard some reviewer mention 9/11 when talking about this album and it forever felt like a soundtrack to that horrible day. And then one morning, I listened to it straight thru while driving it work and suddenly I got it. I then proceeded to drive everyone nuts talking way too much about Wilco & this album.

AGIB then could not be anything but a disappointment after the epic that YHF was. Sure, I like "Theologians" and a few other cuts, but it was no YHF. Then I got a chance to see Wilco from the front row (my second Wilco concert) and AGIB took on a different light. That concert was one of the best times I ever had and I can re-live it any time I want as someone recorded and posted the show two days after it (for my money, the bootleg recording was better than Live in Chicago, but how can I help not to be biased).

The first time I listened to SBS was on headphones and I didn't sit thru any of the songs -"Big disappointment!" I recall saying to myself as I ripped the headphones off. The second time I listened was while washing my car playing it thru some 28 year-old speakers that are in my garage. "OK, a few cuts weren't too bad - my god! He's going back to "alt-country"."

A few days later I listened to it all the way thru while working at my computer over a $80 Logitech 5.1 surround speaker set up. That's when I began to fall in love. There are some beautifully played instruments on this album. There are gorgeous piano and guitar passages. Of course my (current) favorite is "Impossible Germany" - does anyone remember a song Gentle Giant did called "Play The Game" back in the 70's? Germany reminds me of that song.

The are some beautiful instruments in this album - I'm sorry to say that the weakest link is Jeff Tweedy's vocals. I wished he had double tracked his voice on some cuts like he did on Pot Kettle Black & Kamera. I can't be too hard on the guy. He's given up smoking and drinking, had surgery for a deviated septum and he's lost his mom. I too, have had all those experiences in the last 5 years myself and I know what a basket case I am, so I can relate. I'm embarrased to say that I miss the nicotine coated throat that sang the demo version of "Cars Can't Escape".

I recall reading at the end of "Learning To Die" Jeff's wife had bought a guitar lesson for him for his birthday. Watching him play with Nels last year it seems his goal was to hone his guitar skills. I think he accomplished that with SBS. And I appreciate the partial return to his earlier music genre. It shows me that he's not ashamed of where he came from and that he respects and appreciates his past.

Ultimately, he's made a much more accessible album that (as a result) probably a lot more people will hear - and like even more with each time they listen to it - as I do.

(sorry for the length - I'm old and I ramble)

I'm 50 (NOOOOOOO!).

The music I loved as a teenager is now fodder for TV commercials - everyone has sold out.

Married 20 years next year.

Work as a Project Manager/Analyst for a CUSO.

First heard Jeff on Golden Smog's Down By The Old Mill Stream a CD I picked up from Columbia House CD/Tape Club (yes, I was a member) on sale, but it didn't really register.

I think I caugt the video V on VH1's Crossroads which is why I bough the cd.

I recall loving the Son Volt Drown video that was rotated a great deal on that show.

Also vaugely remember seeing Wilco on HBO's Reverb series.

Probably got into Wilco thanks to Napster allow me to risk only time to discover new music.

I recall listening to tracks from YHF while painting my laundry room, but it wasn't until I bought it and played it as a whole piece during to my long commute to work each day.

Then I "got it" and marveled at finding what I thought had become a lost art form - the concept album.

I also loved at hearing the influences of music I grew up with throughout the album.

So many Beatle influences: Reservations reminded me of John Lennon's Julia, Poor Places reminded me of A Day In The Life, parts of Ashes of American Flags remind me of I Am The Walrus.

I hear George Harrison's Savoy Truffle in I'm The Man Who Loves You.

Bought all of their stuff since then and drug my wife to 2 concerts when they've come to town.

Pre-ordered the Sam Jones doc when it came out on DVD and have worn it out.

Favorite other artists over the decades have been Beatles (ya think?), Monkees, Stones, ELP, David Bowie, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Genesis, REM, Replacements & Paul Westerberg, Phish, Green Day, and currently Arctic Monkeys. But I must listen to Hey Chicken 4 to 5 times a week.

After seeing Wilco on Conan a few months ago, I can't wait to see what direction the band goes on the next album.